Lock for sliding covers



i (No Model.)

s. EHURLBUT. LOCK FOR SLIDING COVERS.

Patented Mar. 1, .1887.

UNITE STATES PATENT Fries.

SETH E. HURL'BUT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOOK FOR SLIDING COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,450, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed June 14, 1856. Serial No. 205,124.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SETH E. HURLBUT, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looks for Sliding Covers, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a box with both ends sliding. Fig. 2 is a perspective view enlarged and having the body broken away, showing the ends open. Fig. 3 is a section through the sides and sliding end cover. Fig. 4 is an end view of a box with the cover removed, and showing slots for stoppins. Fig. 5 is an under side view of a cover or end with stop-pins. Fig. 6 is a detail, in section, showing the stop-pins on the cover. Fig. 7 is a perspective View with the body formed of a single piece and slotted.

The object of this invention is to construct a sliding cover for a box or other receptacle which will be held closedby the pressure from the sides between which the cover is located, without interfering with the ready opening of the cover; and its nature consists in a sliding cover having its edge provided with tongues, in combination with a yielding side piece having a groove and a rise orrises for the tongues,

of the cover, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, A represents the cover, which in the arrangement shown forms the end of the box, and, as shown, both ends of the box are covers, so that either end can be opened, as desired. This cover can be made of vulcanized rubber, wood, metal, or other suitable material. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, both side edges of the cover are provided with a flange, a, and each flange has near its end a stud or projection, to. The top of the cover is cut out to form a cross-bar, a, to press against to force the cover open.

B represents the sides of the box, between the ends of which the .cover moves. These sides can be made of gutta-percha, wood, metal, or other material possessing a yielding nature with sufdoient rigidity to return, after being sprung out, to their normal condition. The inner face of each side B is grooved its entire breadth at the point where the cover is located, which groove 22 is of a depth to receive (No model.)

the flange a and lugs a between the extreme ends of the sides, and at the extreme end the groove 1) is of less depth, leaving arise, b, which, when the cover is closed, forms a lock against the withdrawal of the cover, except under pressure, by the abutting of the shoulder of the rise 1) against the shoulder of the stud a at each end, as shown in. Fig. 3.

C represents the remaining sides of thebox, which, as shown, are of less width than the sides B, and to which the sides B are secured by rivets, screws, or otherwise. The rivet or screw 0 is not at the end, but is located just far enough from the end for the ends of the sides B to yield and allow the cover to pass in opening and closing. The outer face of the sides C, as shown, are roughened at c, to form a surface for striking a match, the box shown being designed for use as a match-box.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the striking of the studs a against the stops 1) limits the movement of the cover in opening; but,if desired, the under face of the cover may be provided with projecting pins (1 on each side, as shown in Fig. 5, and the end of each side C may be provided with a slot, e, which lines with one of said pins, so that the cover can open; but the pin (1 on the other side of the cover strikes the inner face of the side 0, as there is no slot in line therewith at that side when the cover is opened.

The sides B are secured to the sides C in such manner as to leave the ends of B room to yield for the passage of the cover or covers when both ends are to be open ends. Each cover is slipped into place with the tongues a a entering the grooves b b, when the box is ready for use, and in use the cover is opened by pressing on the cover to push it open, and is closed by pushing it back into place, and in opening and closing the sides B at the ends yield to allow a to pass b, and return again to position after the parts have passed. The sides, when the cover is closed, fit snugly against the cover, andthe pressureof thesides serves to hold the cover firmly in its closed position without other fastening.

The lock thus formed is very simple in construction, and at the same time is one which effectually performs the office of holding the cover when closed and allowingit to be readily and quickly opened, and this lock can be ap plied to boxes and receptacles where it is desirable to have asecnre fastening against move ment when the cover is closed, but which will move easily and quickly under the proper pressure.

The box shown in Fig. 7 has its sides or walls formed in a single piece by casting or molding, and when so formed the sides B are divided from the sides 0 by slitting or otherwise separating the end or ends, so as to leave them practically tight and capable of yielding for the passage of the cover. The shape of the box can be varied to suit the purpose for which it is to be used; the form represented in the drawings being for the purpose of illustrating the invention, which consists, essentially, in a sliding cover having its edge provided with tongues, combined with a yielding side piece having a groove and a rise or rises for the tongues of the cover. It is evident that the lugs or tongues could be on one side only, the other side being left plain, and that if the cover is to open in one direction only thelugs or tongues need be placed at one end only, and when opened in one direction only the wall 0 on one side can be extended the full length of the walls B. As shown in Fig. 2, the cover slides either way, as desired. The box need have only one cover, as shown in Fig. 7, the other cover or end being stationary, and such cover can cover the side or end of the box or receptacle, as may be desired.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sliding cover having its edge provided with tongues, in combination with a yielding side piece having a groove, anda rise or rises for the tongues of the cover, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. A sliding cover provided on its edges with tongues a, in combination with yielding side pieces having grooves b and rises b, for holding the cover closed and allowing it to be opened, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

SETH E. HURLBUT.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, WM. 1?. BETTENDORF. 

